Monterey loses city manager candidate when it can't settle on offer

Correction: Last month, three members of the Monterey City Council approved a compensation offer to city manager candidate Col. Danial Pick. Two members, Mayor Chuck Della Sala and Councilman Frank Sollecito, opposed it. The wrong opposition votes were given in an earlier version of this story.

After members of the Monterey City Council apparently could not agree on a compensation package, the top contender to be the city's next manager pulled out of the race Wednesday.

Army Col. Danial Pick, commander of the Defense Language Institute since 2010 and a 28-year Army officer, withdrew his name from consideration, the city announced in a media release.

"I appreciate the City Council's time and dedication to filling this key position in Monterey," Pick said in the prepared statement. "It is an honor to have been considered for the position, and I wish the city great success."

Through a base spokesman, Pick said he would have no further comment.

His decision came after the City Council met late Tuesday in closed session to discuss the city manager job. The council reported a unanimous vote after the session on confidential directions to its negotiator.

Pick didn't put his decision to withdraw in writing. "I believe he did it in conversation with the mayor," said Michele Maloney, acting human resources director.

Pick was the top man standing after a second recruitment round to fill the position vacated Dec. 31 by former longtime City Manager Fred Meurer, who joined the city administration after a long Army officer career.

But council members evidently clashed behind closed doors over the salary and benefits package the city should offer Pick for the job.

Last month, three members approved a compensation package, but it was rejected by Mayor Chuck Della Sala and Councilman Frank Sollecito.

That presented a big problem because Monterey's city charter requires a four-fifth's council vote to change or set a city employee's salary. They hired an outside attorney for advice on the matter. But virtually all the talking by council members was done in private personnel sessions, as permitted by state law.

Councilwoman Nancy Selfridge on Wednesday initially expressed surprise at Pick's announcement. She declined to talk about the matter because it was a closed-session item.

"Col. Danial Pick has done a great job leading DLI, and the community has benefitted from his leadership," Selfridge said.

Sollecito said he was disappointed that Pick chose to pull out of the manager hunt.

"He is a legitimate dynamic leader who will land a good job somewhere, but I guess not with the city of Monterey," Sollecito said.

Della Sala said in a prepared statement: "Danial Pick is an excellent leader who would have been a great asset to the city."

As to what happens next — whether the council will look again at people from the 90-applicant second recruitment or embark on a third round — remains to be seen.

Sollecito said that still must be decided by the council.

He said the city has a very capable interim city manager in Mike McCarthy. "We will cross that bridge," he said. "It's not panic time."